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SF Giants Minor Lines, 8/24

See if this encapsulation of the night sounds remotely familiar: where they pitched they didn't hit; where they hit they didn't pitch; where they had a big lead they blew it; where the division was in hand it's slipping away.

By Roger

Ok, for today's 2016 trivia: there were, by my best count, twelve 10 K games in the Giants' system this year. How many can you name? And for extra points, there were three 11 K games, one 12 K game, and one 13 K game. Can you name who had them? Here's a hint!

HIGHLIGHTS: Dylan Davis and Heath Quinn both homered among multi-hit efforts Patrick Ruotolo K'd two more batters.

Sacramento lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (Astros), 1-0

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Kelby Tomlinson

2B

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.300

.376

.356

Mac Williamson

LF

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

.270

.305

.481

Jarrett Parker

RF

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

3

.275

.366

.593

Austin Slater

CF

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

3

.295

.380

.500

Tony Sanchez

C

3

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.214

.281

.321

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Chris Stratton (L, 11-6)

5.2

3

1

1

4

4

0

4.27

Matt Reynolds

1.1

0

0

0

0

1

0

0.00

Josh Osich

1.0

0

0

0

0

2

0

1.80

Hitters were apparently so traumatized by the trip down the mountain from Reno to Fresno, and pitcher's so enlivened by it that offense was pretty hard to come by in this game, which featured just eight hits combined from both teams. Sacramento actually outhit the Grizzlies, 5-3, but Fresno managed to package two of their three hits into one inning, and one of them was the lone XBH of the contest -- a leadoff double who came around to score on a two-out single from Derek Fisher.

After posting some very strong peripherals upon his return from the majors, Chris Stratton has lately reverted to his old "walk a few, K a few" ways. In his last two starts he's walked 9 batters in just 10.2 IP, while striking out 7. That's not a great recipe for run prevention, but he has managed to allow just a single run in each of those games.

The Sacramento bats, on the other hand, were more or less getting manhandled by Fresno starter, minor league vet Cesar Valdez, who struck out 12 batters (and walked just 1) in his 8 shutout innings. Getting Valdez out of the game didn't seem to help either, as Fresno closer James Hoyt struck out the side in the 9th. That's six baserunners on the night for the RiverCats vs. 15 Ks. Tough way to go about things. Bring back that Reno air!

And how do the folks in Fresno feel about this? Despite getting to watch the AAA champions last year and some of the best talent in the game come through their home, there does still seem to be a tang of bitterness about the jilting:

* * *

Richmond lost at Erie Sea Wolves (Tigers), 8-7
getting swept in their three game series, 0-3

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Hunter Cole

RF

5

0

2

1

0

0

2

0

2

.271

.323

.427

Chris Shaw

1B

5

1

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

.243

.296

.407

C.J Hinojosa

SS

5

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

.240

.299

.317

Brandon Bednar

2B

4

1

3

1

0

0

2

0

0

.287

.304

.388

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Andrew Suarez

5.0

8

6

5

1

4

2

4.55

Carlos Alvarado (H, 4)

1.2

1

1

1

0

2

0

2.45

Preston Claiborne (BS, 2)(L, 2-1)

1.1

2

1

1

0

2

1

2.75

A recap in three tweets:

Andrew Suarez had a long stretch of starts through July and August that suggested he was adapting well to AA, allowing 2 or fewer runs in six consecutive outings. But that momentum has stalled in his past two starts. Suarez has allowed 9 ER, and 11 overall in those two games in just 11 IP. Quite possibly the end of his first full season is catching up to him. But this one was definitely painful. Handed a 6-1 lead in the 2nd, Suarez couldn't hand onto it. He immediately gave back two in the bottom of the 2nd and then a big three-run rally int he 5th to make it a one run game. Preston Claiborne would allow the game losing HR (and a serious! game losing HR, this thing went into the Lake I think) to the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 7th.

The Squirrels offense exploded out of the gates, but after the big 2nd inning rally and another run scoring double in the third they shut down the rest of the way, sending just 22 batters to the plate from the 4th - 9th. The big rally started with a booming opposite field double from Chris Shaw, once again showing off his easy power stroke.

And before the scoring spree was over they'd also get RBI doubles from Hunter Cole and Brandon Bednar.

I have to admit, CJ Hinojosa's slump has snuck up on me. I hadn't noticed his average falling down into the .230s and his OBP below .300. Looking into it, he's clearly hit a wall in August, hitting just .188/.233/.224 this month. And beyond the slash line, his normally strong control of the strike zone has gone missing, as he's had 21 Ks to just 5 BBs in the month of August (running his line for Richmond to 33K/ 15 BB). And if all that wasn't bad enough, his defense since being promoted to Richmond has been extremely rough. Tough second half for a kid having a breakout year.

* * *

San Jose lost to Bakersfield Blaze (Mariners) 14-8

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Ronnie Jebavy

CF

4

2

2

0

0

0

0

1

2

.255

.316

.398

Rando Moreno

SS

4

2

2

1

0

0

1

1

1

.200

.250

.247

Dylan Davis

RF

4

1

2

0

0

1

3

1

0

.306

.365

.598

T.J. Bennett

2B

4

1

2

0

0

1

2

0

1

.316

.377

.529

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Jose Reyes (L, 4-5)

1.2

4

9

9

4

0

1

4.94

Carlos Diaz

0.0

1

0

0

1

0

0

10.54

Jeff Soptic

2.2

4

2

2

2

2

0

7.32

Hengerber Medina

2.2

5

3

3

2

5

1

4.91

And talk about your power, what is there left to say about Dylan Davis, who has simply gone off since his promotion back to San Jose. 25 HRs for the season now. Wilson Karaman of Baseball Prospectus and good friend David Lee were exchanging fairly negative comments on Davis recently based on their looks (basically that he's a "stiff" player who might not have the athleticism to translate his game to higher levels) but he has sure figured out how to make his power play this year, and as I think we've all learned from Adam Duvall's career, power that plays in game is worth taking seriously. Duvall's 30 HR season is the SJ all time record, but the only reason that Davis won't get a chance to make a run at it is that he just won't play enough games in the Cal League this year to manage it. But he could easily put up a 20 HR season in about 60 games at this point which is just ridiculous. Chris Shaw's 16 Cal League HRs came in 72 games. Shaw was getting IBB and massively pitched around by his last few weeks in the league. You'd have to think Davis will start getting some of that treatment soon as well. Certainly if he faces Bakersfield in the playoffs they're going to think seriously about giving him pitches he can hit.

Oh and there's one ore month of August we shouldn't overlook. The most out of left field performance of the year I'd say:

Beyond that it is an undeniable fact that the Giants employed players in this game who stood on the pitchers' mound and hurled balls towards home plate. Let us not speak of them.

* * *

Augusta lost to the Greenville Drive (Red Sox), 8-2

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Johneshwy Fargas

RF

4

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

.276

.349

.370

Jalen Miller

2B

4

0

1

1

0

0

1

0

0

.232

.279

.336

Bryan Reynolds

CF

4

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

.333

.364

.571

Dillon Dobson

3B

4

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

2

.277

.321

.476

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Matt Solter (L, 4-5)

2.0

8

7

7

1

2

1

6.47

Luis Pino

4.0

3

0

0

1

5

0

3.86

Cesar Yanez

2.0

1

0

0

1

3

0

4.91

Nick Sabo

1.0

3

1

1

1

0

0

3.00

Ooh boy, we maybe shouldn't speak of these guys either.  Augusta's 5 game lead has turned to a 1.5 game deficit in barely more than a week and by and large it's been the same story every night: faltering starting pitching putting the team in deep holes every night. In this game, Matt Solter had them down 7-0 after just two innings. In a way, it's perfectly understandable. Augusta started the year with an exciting talented rotation. But Mac Marshall couldn't throw strikes and was sent to XST. Logan Webb went under the knife. Michael Santos got hit in the head and never re-appeared and then was traded to Tampa. Phi Bickford was promoted and likewise shipped out of the org. Grant Watson lost his mojo, went on the DL and never regained it, and yesterday went on the DL again (with arm fatigue). Cory Taylor got a well-deserved promotion. And in those guy's place? For months now it's been mostly career relievers handling the bulk of the starters chores, along with Matt Solter signed out of Indy Ball. And it's looking more and more like those arms, unused to starters' workload, just didn't have enough in them to get to the finish line. They needed just three more weeks, but it doesn't look like they've got it in them.

But you know what? They were working to spread positive vibes off the field last night in their community, and that's not unimportant. So how's about we endeavor to spread a little positivity too?

* * *

Salem-Keizer won at Tri-City Dust Devils (Padres), 5-4
winning their five game series, 3-2

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG*

OBP

SLG

Ashford Fulmer

CF

4

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

.295

.406

.393

Gio Brusa

LF

5

1

2

1

0

0

2

0

0

.254

.294

.470

Heath Quinn

RF

5

1

3

0

0

1

3

0

2

.333

.409

.540

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Melvin Adon (W, 3-5)

5.0

6

3

2

2

4

0

6.07

Kendry Melo (H, 2)

1.2

2

1

1

1

2

0

4.54

CJ Gettman (H, 3)

1.1

0

0

0

0

1

0

2.70

Patrick Ruotolo (S, 4)

1.0

0

0

0

0

2

0

1.06

A win! An honest to goodness WIN! Heath Quinn launched a three-run HR in the 4th inning, and Gio Brusa hit a two-run double in the 5th (both of which scored Ashford Fulmer) and the pitching was just enough for it to stand up for the series win.

Going into the draft this year, there were lots of rumors connecting the Giants to Samford OF Heath Quinn with their first pick, but when Bryan Reynolds remained on the board the value was too good to pass over. Fortunately, Quinn was still around when the Giants 3rd round selection came up and they didn't pass a second time. Should we check back in on the leader board?

On the NWL offensive stats, Quinn now ranks at or near the top in:
Batting Avg: 1st
OBP: 3rd
SLG: 1st
OPS: 1st
TB: 1st
HR: t-3rd
2b: t-3rd

He also leads the league in OF Assists. I'm going to go out on a limb and say -- Nice 3rd round pick! Here, just imagine he's wearing Volcanoes red and this is ore or less what his performance last night probably looked like.

Hard-throwing Melvin Adon has one of his best outings since opening night, allowing just 2 ER in 5 IP. Adon's been able to use his power arm to miss a few more bats lately, as he has 15 Ks in 15.2 IP in his last three starts, and in two of those he's kept the walks down (though he mixed in a four walk night as well). An interesting arm to keep an eye on.

As is Patrick Ruotolo, who's probably having crazy out of left field performance of the year: Pitchers' Division. Last night's performance brings him up to a 45% K rate in his 17 IP in the NWL and 44% overall. Ruotolo's allowed just 2 ER in his pro debut.

* * *

AZL Giants had their final off day

Both the Angels and Athletics won last night dropping the Giants into 3rd place, 1.5 games back. As the Giants don't play either of the teams they're now chasing the rest of the way, they'll need some help.

* * *

DSL Giants lost to DSL Mariners1, 4-2 in 7 inn (rain)

Player

Pos

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

AVG

OBP

SLG

Ismael Munguia

CF-LF

3

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

.276

.344

.328

Franklin Labour

LF

3

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

.245

.336

.307

Jose Patino

CF

1

0

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

.279

.344

.328

Wascar De Leon

2B

2

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

.268

.388

.309

Player

IP

H

R

ER

BB

SO

HR

ERA*

Orleny Quiroz (L, 2-5)

2.0

2

1

0

1

3

0

2.18

Marco Gonzalez

1.1

1

1

0

1

2

0

4.91

Jose Yan

2.2

2

2

2

2

1

2

9.00

The weather seemed to be gratuitously unkind to the DSL team yesterday. Heading into the top of the 7th, the Giants had scratched out just four singles and no walks on the day and had produced no runs, losing 4-0. They made two quick outs to start the 7th, but then a single was followed by two walks. And then a HB to force in their first run. And then a Jose Patino infield single drove in another one. With the bases still loaded they were one hit away from tying it up, and with Angeddy Almanzar, the team's best hitter all year coming the plate.

And then?.... and then the rains came, and the rains stayed. And the game was over. Bases loaded, two outs in the 7th, a hit away from a tie ballgame. Angeddy never got the chance to swing it. Game over, called for rain. 4-2 final. Life in the DSL can be cruel sometimes.

* * *

While we're retrospecting the season, let's take a look at the system's slash line leaders, let's say with a minimum of 150 PA.

Rank

Player

Level(s)

AVG*

1

Heath Quinn

A-,Rk

0.340

2

Sandro Fabian

Rk

0.326

3

Miguel Gomez#

A,A+

0.326

4

Ali Castillo

AA,AAA

0.317

5

Bryan Reynolds#

A-,A

0.314

6

Grant Green

AAA

0.313

7

T.J. Bennett*

A+,AAA,AA,A

0.310

8

Kevin Rivera#

A-

0.310

9

Austin Slater

AAA,AA

0.304

10

Gorkys Hernandez

AAA

0.302

Rank

Player

Level(s)

OBP

1

Heath Quinn

A-,Rk

0.424

2

Austin Slater

AAA,AA

0.393

3

Gorkys Hernandez

AAA

0.382

4

Steven Duggar*

A+,AA

0.382

5

John Riley

A-

0.375

6

T.J. Bennett*

A+,AAA,AA,A

0.373

7

Carlos Moncrief*

AA

0.372

8

Kelby Tomlinson

AAA,A+

0.370

9

Steven Lerud*

AA

0.370

10

Bryan Reynolds#

A-,A

0.368

Rank

Player

Level(s)

SLG

1

Jarrett Parker*

AAA

0.593

2

Heath Quinn

A-,Rk

0.546

3

Dylan Davis

A,A+

0.544

4

T.J. Bennett*

A+,AAA,AA,A

0.522

5

Bryan Reynolds#

A-,A

0.509

6

Miguel Gomez#

A,A+

0.508

7

Sandro Fabian

Rk

0.507

8

Austin Slater

AAA,AA

0.496

9

Chris Shaw*

A+,AA

0.488

10

Mac Williamson

AAA

0.481

Those numbers are minor league only for all o fthe folks who split time between minors and majors. So, anyone surprising to you here?

Today's Matchups:
Sacramento: Joan Gregorio vs. Eury De La Rosa
Richmond: Matt Gage vs. Nick Pasquale
San Jose: Dan Slania vs. Tyler Pike
Augusta: Jake McCasland vs. Enmanuel De Jesus (this is not the Enmanuel De Jesus who used to be in the Giants' system but hasn't pitched since 2013)
SK: Off
AZL, DSL: TBD

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